Merula and Colin Smith – Translation and Interpreting.

GERMAN AND FRENCH into ENGLISH

Technical / legal / medical / chemical / pharmaceutical / printing / patent / accounts / financial / banking / IT / environmental / nuclear / railway / marine / aeronautical engineering texts.

1972 / Merula worked as a translator for the Carinthian Music Festival in Austria. Work included translating certain aspects of Eastern music theory, programmes and contracts for the various artists.
Merula was also employed as an in-house translator with the Austrian Draukraftwerke (power stations). Texts included dam construction reports, mathematical papers, geological texts and environmental impact studies.
1973 / Merula and Colin completed their BAs at the University of Wales, Lampeter. Colin’s BA was in German and Merula’s in German and French. Merula then attended the University of Westminster to do a post-graduate technical translation and interpreting course. An aspect of the course involved spending time with medical students at one of the leading London hospitals as part of her specialisation in medical/chemical/pharmaceutical translations as well as aeronautical engineering.
1974 / Merula spent one year in Bremen, Germany working with VFW Fokker in the translation department. Work included translating aircraft manuals, systems analysis texts, brochures, in-house research papers and financial documents as well as interpreting for multi-national aircraft projects.
1975 / Merula sets up her own translation company – E. Billington Translation & Consultancy Service in Cunard Building, Liverpool.
Work included a wide variety of disciplines owing to the large customer base. This included translating manuals for British Aerospace, interpreting at training for pilots’ familiarisation courses, ground engineer courses and avionics. These assignments involved prolonged stays in various countries of West Africa, where she acted as interpreter in negotiating contracts with heads of state and Chief of Staff. She also translated a number of contracts relating to aircraft deals and interpreted around the UK for Dowty Rotol, Marconi and Rolls Royce.
1980 -1981 / Work developed to include a large machine tool study for GKN, which involved the translation of tooling specifications and interpreting assignments in Algeria over a five month period.
Another interpreting assignment involved a trip to the French West Indies to interpret for Rolls Royce turbine and generator familiarisation course for EDF.
1982 / E. Billington Translation & Consultancy Service was renamed Liverpool Translation Service Ltd, and the company moved to Old Hall Street, Liverpool.
At this point, Colin Smith joined the company as co-director
after spending several years in the banking/financial industry.
Colin began to specialise in financial / accounting and legal translations.
At this time Merula was commissioned to translate two books - one on the Capercaillie, and the other a doctorate study on AIDS.
Mid 1980’s / Merula and Colin acquired Spargnapani Translations Ltd in Manchester, Ken Pull Associates in Rayleigh, and a branch was set up in Leicester, whereupon it was decided to rename the company “International Translations Ltd”.
Owing to the vast amount of disciplines, both directors were involved in translating the bulk of the German and French generated by the company.
A large contract at this time was with Balfour Beatty, translating a large volume of documents relating to the building of the Channel Tunnel.
2000-2008 / Owing to the changes in office working due to the advancement of new technologies, it was decided to downsize the company (as office spaces were no longer required). At this time it was also decided to concentrate more on the translation side.
The company is now operated from one office in Heswall, Wirral, UK.
During the last 12 months, significant jobs have included high-profile legal
cases, translation of documents for Premier League football clubs, translation work for Trade Associations, international advertising campaigns, expert opinions and ongoing work with a large printing plant (part of the Bertelsmann Group). There has been increasing interest from Europe – especially lawyers and companies involved in trade with the UK. The interpreting side has also grown with Colin looking after the interpreting side of the business, placing court interpreters at national level.
  • More than 30 years professional experience
  • Reasonable rates – please enquire
  • Holders of professional indemnity insurance
  • For references and testimonials please visit the ITL website at